(Aquilegia caerulea ‘McKana Giants’)
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McKana Giants Columbine Mix is a native clump-forming bushy perennial flower that is native to the northwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features fern like green leaves, and 3” upward-facing 5 petaled white, pink, blue, yellow, purple, and red flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, it attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating moths, it resists deer and rabbits, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
Family: Ranunculaceae
Genus: Aquilegia
Species: caerulea
Variety: McKana Giants Columbine
Native to: Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, California, Central European Rus, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Florida, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Italy, Japan, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Is., Magadan, Maine, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Morocco, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, Northwest European R, Northwest Territorie, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saskatchewan, Sicilia, South Carolina, South Dakota, Spain, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tennessee, Texas, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia, Yukon
Introduced into: Argentina South, Azores, Canary Is., Chile Central, Chile South, Denmark, East European Russia, Ecuador, Finland, Kamchatka, Krym, Madeira, New Brunswick, New South Wales, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Newfoundland, North European Russi, Norway, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward I., South European Russi, Sweden, Tasmania, Victoria
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Bloom): Spring
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade.
Water: Medium.
Soil Moisture: Medium.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinating Moths, as well as resisting deer and rabbits.
Containers?: Yes.
Height: 24-36”
Spacing: 12-15”
Sow Depth: 1/4"
USDA Zone: 3a-8b
Produces: fern like green leaves, and 3” upward-facing 5 petaled white, pink, blue, yellow, purple, and red flowers.
Genus: Aquilegia
Species: caerulea
Variety: McKana Giants Columbine
Native to: Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, California, Central European Rus, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Florida, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Italy, Japan, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Is., Magadan, Maine, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Morocco, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, Northwest European R, Northwest Territorie, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saskatchewan, Sicilia, South Carolina, South Dakota, Spain, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tennessee, Texas, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia, Yukon
Introduced into: Argentina South, Azores, Canary Is., Chile Central, Chile South, Denmark, East European Russia, Ecuador, Finland, Kamchatka, Krym, Madeira, New Brunswick, New South Wales, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Newfoundland, North European Russi, Norway, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward I., South European Russi, Sweden, Tasmania, Victoria
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity (Bloom): Spring
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade.
Water: Medium.
Soil Moisture: Medium.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinating Moths, as well as resisting deer and rabbits.
Containers?: Yes.
Height: 24-36”
Spacing: 12-15”
Sow Depth: 1/4"
USDA Zone: 3a-8b
Produces: fern like green leaves, and 3” upward-facing 5 petaled white, pink, blue, yellow, purple, and red flowers.
Starting Columbine Seeds Indoors for Spring
When starting Columbine seeds indoors for spring, you will need to stratify your seeds by mixing them with moist sand and storing them in the refrigerator for 60 days 10 weeks before the last frost date of your area. Sow your seeds just below the surface of 2" Soil Blocks indoors 2 weeks before the last frost date of your area. Keep your blocks lightly moist and the area at a temperature of 60-65 degrees F until germination occurs.
Transplanting Columbine Seedlings Outdoors for Spring
Transplant your Columbine seedlings outdoors as soon as they can be safely handled and there's no chance of frost in your area. Transplant them into fertile, moist, well-drained soil 12-15" apart. Plant Columbine in full sun to partial shade because this flower appreciates being shielded from the midday sun.
Starting Columbine Seeds Outdoors for Spring
For spring planting, mix your Columbine seed with moist sand and store it in the refrigerator for 60 days before direct sowing after the last frost. Space seedlings 12-15" apart.
Starting Columbine Seeds Outdoors for Fall
Direct sow your Columbine seeds outdoors 2-4 weeks before the first frost date in early fall just below the soil surface at 12-15" apart in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Plant Columbine in full sun to partial shade because this flower appreciates being shielded from the midday sun.
Keep the seedlings watered and control weeds. Mature plants tolerate some dryness, but should be watered in the heat of summer. Hot and humid weather may cause the plant to wilt, since this plant prefers cool weather and can survive light frosts. Flowers planted from seed will bloom in their second year of growth. After blooming, the foliage will die off. Established plants can be divided, though they will self sow readily; volunteer plants can easily be transplanted. Deadhead the wilted blossoms if new plants are not wanted. Columbine attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees as well as resisting deer and rabbits. Its natural growth in rocky areas makes it a good choice for rock gardens.
Columbine makes a lovely cut flower. Choose blossoms that have just opened for the longest vase life. Keep in mind that this plant can be toxic and should not be ingested.
Keep in mind that this plant will cross pollinate easily with other varieties of columbine. Watch the maturing seed pods carefully, since they will open and expose their seed when fully ripe. Shake the open pods into a container to remove the seed. Store the seed in a cool, dry place for up to two years.
Companion planting is an excellent practice for any skill level of gardener. By using the natural substances contained within a plant’s roots your garden can both repel unwanted insects and attract those with useful traits. Companion planting can also be used to group flowers that prefer similar conditions.
Using companion plants as a border, backdrop, or interplanting in your garden beds will allow you to harness the ecosystem to its full potential. It is best to use plants native to your area so that the insects you seek to attract will know what to look for!
Phlox, a purplish-blue woodland flower, work well with columbines to form a shady border. Both types of flowers prefer light to moderate shade and bloom in the mid- to late spring. Another border option is the toad lily, which blooms just after the columbine wanes in spring, leading to a beautiful garden throughout the season.
A good vegetable companion to the columbine is rhubarb which, in addition to its nutritional qualities, deters the red spider mites which often prey on columbines. Rhubarb leaves can also form a natural deterrent to blackspot on roses when boiled.
Other light-shade lovings plants prove good companions to columbines. These include ferns, woodland flowers, Jeepers Creepers Tiarella, Chocolate Chip Ajuga and hostas. Cottage or prairie plants, such as False Indigo or Autumn Bluch Coreopsis, can be combined to create an informal feel while allowing varying soil conditions and light shade to yield blossoms.
Using companion plants as a border, backdrop, or interplanting in your garden beds will allow you to harness the ecosystem to its full potential. It is best to use plants native to your area so that the insects you seek to attract will know what to look for!
Phlox, a purplish-blue woodland flower, work well with columbines to form a shady border. Both types of flowers prefer light to moderate shade and bloom in the mid- to late spring. Another border option is the toad lily, which blooms just after the columbine wanes in spring, leading to a beautiful garden throughout the season.
A good vegetable companion to the columbine is rhubarb which, in addition to its nutritional qualities, deters the red spider mites which often prey on columbines. Rhubarb leaves can also form a natural deterrent to blackspot on roses when boiled.
Other light-shade lovings plants prove good companions to columbines. These include ferns, woodland flowers, Jeepers Creepers Tiarella, Chocolate Chip Ajuga and hostas. Cottage or prairie plants, such as False Indigo or Autumn Bluch Coreopsis, can be combined to create an informal feel while allowing varying soil conditions and light shade to yield blossoms.
Skin Health: For thousands of years, columbine has been used by the indigenous populations of North America and Europe to treat a variety of skin conditions. You can crush the seeds or roots and combine them with water to create a paste or salve that can be placed directly on rashes and irritation. The anti-inflammatory nature of columbine helps to reduce the irritation and redness of these affected areas. It is also effective for mild acne, psoriasis, and poison ivy, as well as other plant-derived rashes.
Eliminate Pain: Columbine also works as an effective pain reliever on various parts of the body. The same sort of paste can be applied to bruises and strained muscles to reduce aches and pains, as a result of the same anti-inflammatory compounds found in the roots and seeds. Lotions made from the crushed root and the extracted oils is very popular for rheumatic pains as people age. Those suffering from arthritis can use these herbal lotions to significantly reduce their discomfort. Using columbine on open wounds is discouraged, as the toxicity could negatively affect the body if it gets into the bloodstream.
Headaches: One of the most popular uses of columbine has been in the reduction of headaches. Using tiny amounts of crushed seeds and often mixing them with wine or water, headaches can quickly be relieved. Again, the seeds contain toxic substances, so very small amounts are necessary for this treatment, and consulting an herbalist is highly recommended.
Respiratory Issues: Crushing the roots and mixing them with water has also been used as a treatment for certain respiratory problems, including congestion and sore throats. By eliminating the inflammation of the respiratory tracts, columbine can help to speed up the healing process, reduce irritation, and eliminate congestion, which prevents further illness or infection from bacteria in the phlegm and sputum.
Detoxify the Body: Columbine has long been used to stimulate perspiration, and is known traditionally as an effective remedy to break a fever. If you mix the flowers with water and drink this mixture, fevers can be rapidly eliminated. This same property also induces urination, so its role as a diuretic makes it valuable for detoxifying the body. By stimulating the elimination of excess toxins, salts, fats, and water, columbine helps relieve pressure on the kidneys and liver.
Stomach Issues: If the roots are prepared correctly, they can be consumed as a tonic for the stomach, as it can ease inflammation and irritation in the bowels that causes diarrhea and symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). It should be consumed in small quantities and prepared by a trained herbalist.
Menstrual Bleeding: The effects of columbine on women have been known for generations. A small tincture can be used to induce labor in pregnancy, and its properties as a coagulant and astringent can help to reduce bleeding after delivery. Also, columbine is used by many herbal practitioners to lessen menstrual bleeding and reduce some of the discomfort and symptoms associated with menstruation.
A Final Word of Warning: As mentioned many times in this article, columbine is a poisonous flower, so despite all of the health benefits we’ve just explained, you should not try to create decoctions, tinctures, or salves without proper training or consultation with an herbalist or traditional practitioner. Before adding any powerful herbal remedy to your health regiment, always consult a medical professional.
Eliminate Pain: Columbine also works as an effective pain reliever on various parts of the body. The same sort of paste can be applied to bruises and strained muscles to reduce aches and pains, as a result of the same anti-inflammatory compounds found in the roots and seeds. Lotions made from the crushed root and the extracted oils is very popular for rheumatic pains as people age. Those suffering from arthritis can use these herbal lotions to significantly reduce their discomfort. Using columbine on open wounds is discouraged, as the toxicity could negatively affect the body if it gets into the bloodstream.
Headaches: One of the most popular uses of columbine has been in the reduction of headaches. Using tiny amounts of crushed seeds and often mixing them with wine or water, headaches can quickly be relieved. Again, the seeds contain toxic substances, so very small amounts are necessary for this treatment, and consulting an herbalist is highly recommended.
Respiratory Issues: Crushing the roots and mixing them with water has also been used as a treatment for certain respiratory problems, including congestion and sore throats. By eliminating the inflammation of the respiratory tracts, columbine can help to speed up the healing process, reduce irritation, and eliminate congestion, which prevents further illness or infection from bacteria in the phlegm and sputum.
Detoxify the Body: Columbine has long been used to stimulate perspiration, and is known traditionally as an effective remedy to break a fever. If you mix the flowers with water and drink this mixture, fevers can be rapidly eliminated. This same property also induces urination, so its role as a diuretic makes it valuable for detoxifying the body. By stimulating the elimination of excess toxins, salts, fats, and water, columbine helps relieve pressure on the kidneys and liver.
Stomach Issues: If the roots are prepared correctly, they can be consumed as a tonic for the stomach, as it can ease inflammation and irritation in the bowels that causes diarrhea and symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). It should be consumed in small quantities and prepared by a trained herbalist.
Menstrual Bleeding: The effects of columbine on women have been known for generations. A small tincture can be used to induce labor in pregnancy, and its properties as a coagulant and astringent can help to reduce bleeding after delivery. Also, columbine is used by many herbal practitioners to lessen menstrual bleeding and reduce some of the discomfort and symptoms associated with menstruation.
A Final Word of Warning: As mentioned many times in this article, columbine is a poisonous flower, so despite all of the health benefits we’ve just explained, you should not try to create decoctions, tinctures, or salves without proper training or consultation with an herbalist or traditional practitioner. Before adding any powerful herbal remedy to your health regiment, always consult a medical professional.
Suggested Varieties
Rhubarb: Victoria (Heirloom) (Rheum x coltorum)
$1.00 - $5.60
This heirloom variety of rhubarb comes from horticultural expert Joseph Myatt of Manor Farm in Deptford, England. Mr. Myatt introduced Victoria rhubarb in 1837, to honor England's beloved queen; rhubarb immediately became an extremely popular dessert inspiration in the fashionable circles of Britain. The Victoria rhubarb strain, which soon made its way across the ocean, is also responsible for the American culinary tradition of rhubarb.